mcqueed



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. McOU EED. Neck Rushing Pressing Machine. v No; 236,606. Pgtented Jan.11,1881.

ATTORNEYS.

PLPETERS. PNOTO-UTHOGRAPNH. WASHINGTON, D. 0

,or plaits is used, because an even tension on UNITE STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES MOQUEED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NECK-RUCHlNG-PRESSING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,606, dated January11, 1881. Application filed September 3, 1880. (No model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES McQUEEn, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Neck-Ruching PressingMachine, of which the following is a specification.

,The object of this invention is to provide a machine whereby the workof pressing collars, collarets, or neck-ruching is rendered moreaccurate and effective and performed at a great saving of time andlabor.

In the ordinary machines for' pressing collars or neck-ruching thefluted or plaited material used in the manufacture is pushed or fedforward on a stationary bed by hand between the pressing rolls orcylinders, which process is comparatively slow and involves greatliability'to inaccurate work, especially when any material but that withthe narrowest fiutings every part of the material cannot be maintainedby hand-pressure, and consequently, when coarsely. fluted or plaitedmaterial is thus pushed forward, the fiutings or plaits thereof are notkept evenly apart. In some other machines designed for this purposeflexible endless belts are used for conveying the material or fabric tobe operated upon between the pressing-rolls, the fabric being heldbetween parallel belts; bnt it is found that the slightly-differentmovement of the belts and the slipping of one or the other of themcauses imperfect work, and with the belts the collars or ruching cannothave their ends turned and immovably secured in place by pins.

My invention is free from all these objectionable points; and itconsists of clamps or nippers hinged on a movable table, so as to swingopen in a vertical plane, whereby the collars or ruching are introducedand held in position between the pressing-rolls; and it consists,further, in combination, with the movable table and clamps or nippers,of adjustable spring-actuated pressure-rolls that hold said clamps ornippers with suitable pressure upon the collars or ruchin g as they aremoved along, and ofother novel devices and combinations of devices, allof which are hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of the device on line 000:, Fig.2. Fig. 2 is a secwood I I, having slightly-beveled inner tional sideelevation of the same on line y 3 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofa modification of a portion of the device. Fig. 4 is a front sectionalelevation of a portion of the device on line z 2, Fig. 2. Fig.5 is aplan of a moving bed with clamps or nippers hinged thereto. Fig.6 isaplan view, showing a collar or ruching in position on the movingbed,with the clamps thrown back.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

In the drawings, A A represent the supporting-standards of the machine,provided with opposite laterallyextendin g arms A A, whose extremitiesserve as bearings forthe rods B B, that extend across the machine, andhave fitted over them the loose table-supporting sleeves B B, that areprovided with beveled flanges B B which revolve in a vertical plane inthe longitudinal central opening or groove a, between the two parallelparts of the table or bed G, which latter is supported and moves on saidsleeves B B in order to pre vent any lateral movement of saidtable O.This table 0 consists of two parallel strips of wood or metal set farenough apart to admit the edges of the pressing rolls or cylinders D Hbetween them, said strips beingof considerable length and connected attheir ends by braces, h h, that serve also as handles by which towithdraw the said table 0 from the machine; or said table 0 may beconstructed in sections hinged together at their ends, as shown at h hinFigs. 2 and 3. Hinged along the upper and outer edges of said table 0,as shown att'z', are the clamps or nippers 0 that consist of nearlyrectangular strips of faces, to correspond with the shape of thepressingcylinder H, and provided with angle-plates C of iron or othersuitable material, bent over their inner edges and extended down overand below their sloping faces, so that the lower edges of said plates 0shall rest upon the collars or ruchings on the table 0, and hold themsecurely in position, the said collars or ruchings having been firstfixed on the stationary pins V V, that project upward from the bottom ofthe said table C, while they are being pressed between the cylinders DH, the said plates 0 pressing upon the fabric on each side of itslongitudinal line, so that the cylinders D H may operate along thecenter line thereof.

D D are boxes secured upon the standards A A, in which boxes isjournaled the horizontal hollow shaft D that carries the lower pressingroll or cylinder, D, which pressing cylinder or roll D is beveled fromits hub or its union with the shaft D on both faces to a narrow flatperiphery, and, revolving in a Vertical plane, extends upward in thecentral opening or groove a of the movable table 0.

E is a cog-wheel keyed on the outer end of the hollow shaft D and E isanother cogwheel keyed on said shaft D between the wheel E and theouterjournal-box, D. Motion is imparted to said shaft D and pressingroll or cylinder D by turning the cog-wheel F, (shown in Fig. 3,) whichis set loosely on a rod, B, and gears with the said cog-wheel E. Saidcog-wheel F may have power applied to it through the crank F, or in anyother convenient manner. On this hollow shaft D is secured a sleeve, G,provided with pins b b,that extend rearward and parallel with the saidshaft D and enter corresponding pin-holes c c, in a sliding clutch, G,which is loosely fitted on said shaft D and is moved or operated by alever, d. Contiguous to the clutch G is a loose pinion, G held on theshaft D by a set-screw, 01. so that it may readily turn thereon withoutsliding.

O is a rack fixed upon an edge of the table 0, and extending the entirelength thereof. When the machine is in motion and it is desired to movethe table 0 to feed the collars orruching between the pressing rolls orcylinders D H, the clutch G is thrown, by the lever d, in gear with theloose pinion G which latter is engaged with the rack G, and when it isdesired to draw said table O back again, preparatory to another passagebetween the pressing-rolls D, the operator throws the clutch G out ofgear with the rack C, so that said table O may be withdrawn withoutstopping the running of the machine.

Above the boxes D, and supported by the standards A A, are adjustablejournal-boxes H H, that serve as bearings for the upper hollow shaft, Hthat is directly above and parallel with the shaft D and that carriesfixed upon it a pressing roll or cylinder H, which is a duplicate of theroll D, and is revolved directly above it, so that a narrow space isleft between the edges or peripheries of said rolls D H, through whichthe collars or ruching to be operated upon are passed. On the outer endof this pressing hollow shaft H is fixed a cog-wheel, I, that gears intothe cog-wheel E of the hollow shaft D so that the revolution of thelatter shaft causes the former to revolve in a contrary direction.

Between the journal-boxes D and H are spiral springs 1, that are for thepurpose of relieving, when desired, the pressure of the cylinder H uponthe fabrics operated upon.

In the slots (I d of the standards A A are spiral springs 1 that bearupon the tops of the boxes H, and are adjusted by the screwbolts ff,that pass down through the tops of said standards A A, so that byturning down said screw-bolts f f the springs l are compressed, andtherefore press the cylinder H with more force upon the fabrics beingoperated upon, which effect is sometimes desirable when collars orruchings of two or more thicknesses are being made. A sufficientslacking of the bolts ff permits the cylinder H to press downward onlywith the force due to its own weight and that of the hollow shaft H andits direct attachments, while if the tension of the springs 1 beentirely removed the springs I will operate to relieve the downwardpressure of the cylinder H, as before stated. The pressing-cylinders D Hare both heated with gas that is introduced into them or into theirrespective hollow shafts D H through the pipes K K.

K represents gas-pipes provided with enlarged perforated burners g g,that are introduced horizontally into the rear ends of the hollow shaftsD H so that the burners g g shall be centered within each pressing rollor cylinder D H; and K represents the connected gas-pipes, provided withair-openin gs f f, through which air is supplied to mingle with the gasto produce combustion. The gas enters through the pipes K in thedirection of the arrows, (shown in said pipes,) and burns on escapingfrom the burners g g. The products of the combustion of the gas passrearward from the said shafts D H into the connected series ofT-couplings and pipes that constitute the smoke-flue L, as shown, thedraft being through the shafts D H in the direction of their arrows. Toprevent undue heating of the rear ends of the shafts D H these portionsof them are lined with asbestus, fire-clay, or other non-conductingsubstance, L, which is held in place by tubes L as shown.

On one side of the machine the two parallel uprights M M are eachprovided with arms m m, extending over the pressing-cylinder H, andhaving secured upon their ends journalboxes m m, that guide thevertically-adj nstable spring-actuated bars M M, on whose lower roundedextremities are pivoted the doublyforked roller-carriers M M Saidroller-car-. riers M M are of the shape of an inverted V, each leg ofwhich is forked and carries in the end of each fork a pressure-roller,N. These pressure-rollers N N bear upon the tops of the clamps ornippers 0 directly in front and rear of the pressing-cylinder H, and onboth sides thereof, for the purpose of holding said clamps O withsufficient firmness upon the fabrics that are subjected to theaction ofthe cylinders D H. The sockets m m in the tops of these carriers M arerounded to correspond with the extremities of the bars 1 M, so that saidcarriers M may adjust themselves and permit the rollers N to be adjustedto the varying thicknesses of the fabrics being operated upon. Thespiral springs M encircling the bars M and supported in place by thepins n, that pass transversely through the bars M, serve to hold saidrollers N down with a constant pressure, and this pressure is removed atany time for the withdrawal of the table (J or for any other purpose bymeans of the cocentrics and their handles 0 0, the former of which. arepivoted on the bars 3 and bear upon the lower journal-boxes m -m,whereby said bars M and their connected rollers M are elevated. Ahorizontal connecting-bar, n, connecting the eccentric handles 0 witheach other, assures the synchronous movement of the eccentrics O.

The pressing-cylinders D H are liable to become coated with gum or sizefrom the fabrics pressed between them. To remedy this blocks of wood orother suitable material, 1?, covered with sand-paper, are held incontact with the periphery of the cylinder D. The sandpapered block P isheld against the lower cylinder, D, by means of a spring-actuated arm,1?, that is pivoted on an upright, P, that rises from the standard A,and the block Q is held against the edge of the cylinder H by aspring-actuated rod, Q, that is supported in the parallel bars Q, thatpass across between the journal-boxes m m.

An arm, It, attached to the side of the stand ard A, and extendingtoward the center of the machine, supports a bent rod, It, that carrieson its horizontal arm, above and in front of the cylinder H, two spoolsor reels, 1*, of thread 1', and secured on said arm It, beneath thereels 1", is a cup, 1", having rods r fixed transversely within it,while on the edge of said arm R, in front of the cup 1*, a plate, 8, issecured that curves downward and inward toward the space between thecylinders D H. It is designed to fill this cup 0 with water, and to passthe thread 7' through it about the rods 1", to be retained long enoughto become thoroughly wet, and then to pass the ends of the thread 1'between the cylinders D H, that it may rest upon the fabrics beingoperated upon and moisten them in sucha manner and place that thepressure of the said cylinders D H will suffice to make them sticktogether, said fabrics being properly sized before being submitted tothe pressing operation.

In Fig. 3 is shown another device for passing the table (J between thepressing-cylinders D H. In this instance the table 0 is made in sections(3*, hinged together, as hereinbetore described, so as to make acontinuous sectional .table, and is extended over hexagonal spiderstents, and the said contents be removed to a basket or other receptacleby contact with the curved finger T, that is projected upward in such aposition that the tip thereof will engage beneath said collarssuccessively and lift them from said table-sections G or the collars maybe removed by other suitable device.

The fabric of which the collar or ruchin g T is made is suitably sizedand fluted or plaited, and then cut into suitable lengths; and when adouble collar is to be made the ends of a piece of the fabric are turnedin and pinned, by pins V, to the table 0, as shown in Fig. 6, the saidpiece of fabric T being laid centrally and longitudinally over theopening a of the table 0. The clamps O are then turned over, so that theedges of the angle-plates 0 shall bear on the fabric or collar T for itswhole length on either side of the groove or opening a. Then,'as thetable 0 is moved between the cylinders D H, the rollers N N press downupon the tops of the clamps G, to cause the latter to hold the collar orfabric T in place; and at the same time the edges of the cylinders D Hare applied to the opposite faces of the said collar or fabric T, andthe moisteningthread 1' is at the same time pressed by the cylinders D Hon either side of the center ofthc collar or fabric T, with the effectof fastening said thread 1' firmly upon the face of the said collar orfabric T by the combined action of the heated cylinders and wet thread;and if the collar or ruchingis made of more than one thickness-if two ormore pieces of fabric are laid upon each other-the moisture from thethread r moistens and softens the sizing on the said fabric, so. thatthe pieces will be firmly united by the pressure of the heated cylindersD H.

In Fig. 6 a collar or ruching, T, is shown, with the left-l1and portionfinished by the action of the cylinders D H, and the right-hand portionas it appears before being subjected to the said cylinders D H. When thesaid collar T is removed from the table 0, after passing through thecylinders D H, it is cut in two between the threads r 1, thus making twosmall collars, such as are in common use.

This machine is designed more especially for turning the ends of collarsor ruchings and holding them securely in place while being pressed-thatis, the ruffiing or plaiting may be placed on the movable table with theplaits or flutings thereof any desired distance apart, and the clamps ornippers G will hold them firmly in position while being pressed.

There is a great demand for these goods with plaits or flutings wideapart, but hitherto it has not been possible to produce them withuniformity of plaits or flutings.

In other machines the plaited or tluted fabric is either fed forwardbeneath the pressingcyli'nders by hand or carried between endless belts;but in both cases the plaits or flutings become displaced or distortedin a greater or less degree.

It will be seen, also, that I apply a rolling pressure upon the clampsor nippers before ihe goods enter between the pressing-cylinders, andthat the same rolling pressure is applied on the clamps or nippers inrear of the pressing-cylinders to make sure that the goods are carriedalong from the pressingcylinders; for said goods, on account of thesizing in them, are otherwise very liable to adhere to thepressing-cylinders if said cylinders be too hot or too cold.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a neck-ruching-pressing machine, thehinged clamps or nippers G provided with stationary pins V V,constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described,whereby the goods to be operated upon are held straight, so that thereshall be nodisplacement or distortion of them in the pressin ,9:process, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the hinged clamps or nippers 0 of thepressure-rollers N N, arranged to operate substantially as and for thepurpose described.

3. As a means for holding the ends of collars, collarets, or neck-rnchings while being pressed in a pressing-machine in the process ofmanufacture, the stationary pins V V, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

4. The combination, with the standards A A, supporting sleeves B B,table 0, hollow shafts 1) H and pressingcylinders D H, of the hin gedclamps or nippers provided with angle-plates C and stationary pins V V,and pressure-rollers N N, arranged to operate substantially as hereinshown and described.

5. The method, substantially as herein described, of producing collars,collarets, or ruchings with uniformity of plaits or flutings, withoutdistortion or displacement, consisting in securing the fabric to beoperated upon by means of pins fixed in movable clamps or nippers, asset forth.

CHARLES MOQUEED.

Witnesses:

I. I. STORER, O. SEDGWIGK.

